[DML] Removed my own binnacle! Cleaned/replaced lights

["daviddelorean" <daviddelorean@xxxxxxxxx>]

It was a lazy sunday today and I had nothing to do. I decided that 
instead of giving a shop $200 to remove my binnacle, I'd do it 
myself. Wasn't hard at all once I studied the underneith of the dash. 
In fact, it only took 30 minutes. It was important to have a good 
work light; I used one of my construction portable halogen lamps. It 
lit up the underneith like a football field.

First, I had to take off the 2 decorative trim pieces under the 
steering wheel. They are held on by 4 nuts. No biggie.

Next I removed the plastic air duct that runs under the dash to the 
door vent. My door vents are plugged up anyway, so removing this 
didn't make a difference.

With the plastic air duct gone, everything I had to do to remove the 
binnacle was right there. 6 tiny nuts. I needed to go to the store to 
get a 'metric' set of nut drivers though (remember our cars were made 
in Ireland).  After the nuts were removed the binnacle slid right 
out.  I had to remove the wire harnesses (which are just snap ins).  
Then I took off the plastic front.

I cleaned all that pesky dust that was stuck in place for 25 years. 
It was fun seeing how everything works and touching the gage needles. 
I cleaned everything so it looks brand new.

Finally I replaced all the bulbs with LEDs (except for the alternator 
light - I assumed it won't work with an LED). The tell tale warning 
lights are now a brilliant, piercing color. I also put white LEDs in 
for the gage illumination.  It looks awesome! The gages now light up 
a brilliant pure white light.

On a side note, while laying on my back on the floor, I saw the front 
dashboard speakers. They are held on from underneith with 2 nuts and 
can easily be replaced. The wires are just snap ins. I got a quote 
for $1,000 for this job. I can do it myself in no time now that I 
know where to look.





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